Survey: More Renters Want to Become Homeowners

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube
Published: August 05, 2013

Homeownership as a priority is on the upswing. And a look back shows perceptions about owning weren't as negative during the recession as the media suggested.

Americans have favored buying over renting, even during the recent Great Recession, and this year is no different. The 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey, by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, found Americans overwhelmingly believe owning a home is a good financial decision, and a majority of renters say homeownership is one of their highest priorities for the future.

During the recession, much media coverage of homeownership focused on the idea that lots of people thought renting was much smarter than buying. But that wasn't necessarily the case as a look back shows.

The decline in home prices and turmoil in the housing markets did influence consumers' perception of housing as a sound investment -- but not by nearly as much as the media made it appear.

From 2007 to 2011, based on earlier Pulse surveys, the share of people who thought buying a home was a good financial decision dropped from about 85% to 73% and the share of people who were "not so strongly" positive grew. By 2013, we're back to 80% thinking homeownership is a sound financial decision.

You can interpret that dip two ways. Some would say homeowners were resilient as prices declined. Others would say the recession was a wake up call for investors who viewed the real estate market as a short-term investment.

Regardless of which way you see it, most of us have returned to the much more realistic viewpoint that real estate is a solid, if long-term, investment.

This year's Home Pulse survey also found:

          •Eight in 10 Americans think buying a home is a good financial decision.

          •68% believe now is a good time to buy a home.

          •36% of renters are now thinking about purchasing a home, up from 25% last year.

          •The proportion of renters who say they prefer to rent dropped from 31% to 25%.

          •Half of renters say that eventually owning a home is one of their highest personal priorities, up to 51% from 42%.

Those renters should be in a good position to buy given that home prices are pretty affordable (unless you're a bus driver in San Francisco). Rising interest rates could come into play, but anything around 6% looks good compared with the double-digit interest rates of the 1980s.

Attitudes toward the housing market have also improved over the years. Nearly four in 10 Americans (38%) said their local market was more active this year, compared with 51% of people who reported a slowdown in local activity last year.

There is also less concern than in the past about the drop in home values; almost half (49%) said housing prices in their area are more expensive than a year ago.

Kids Becoming Home Owners?

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that when you were fourteen, you weren’t thinking about buying your first home. Well, believe it or not, there’s a young girl in Florida who has taken advantage of this incredible buyer’s market. 

14-Year Old Becomes Homeowner and Landlord

(http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2012/03/13/florida-14-year-old-becomes-a-homeowner-and-a-landlord/)

“Instead of using her $6,000 savings to buy an iPad, Willow Tufano bought herself a distressed property. And now she’s renting it out. Willow got help from her mother, who doubled her investment. Together, the two spent $12,000 to buy a 3-bedroom Florida short sale that, in better times, was valued at $100K. Now they are partners, since Florida requires a homeowner to be at least 18 years of age, but Willow plans to buy her mother out as soon as she can so she can own the home outright when she reaches the legal age.”

Admittedly, it’s a pretty incredible story, and certainly not the norm. But right now I’m seeing a lot of market activity which suggests that, despite what you read in the media, we may see see an uptick in sales and pricing on the North Shore. I think fear has been holding back a lot of people from seeing clear investment opportunities, and well, sometimes it takes the wisdom of a child to help us see the way!

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY A HOME NOW

AND SELL IT AT A PROFIT IN 2 YEARS?

It's possible, but there are so many variables that it is impossible to give you a definate answer. I will give you a couple of hints, though.

1. Buy low. Nobody can predict what is going to happen with the market in the next 2 year. Yes, some people try, many with very impressive credentials, but there are so many different opinions, who do you believe? The fact is, real estate will always go up in value over time. How much time is the big unknown right now. But if you buy low enough, you have a better chance of selling for a profit. And by low, I don't mean low-priced. I mean below current market value. Look at bank owned (REO) properties to find some great deals.
2. FInd homes that mainly need cosmetics. A coat of paint, new flooring, and a spruce up of the kitchen and baths will dramtically raise the value and lower market time. Don't buy a home that needs major renovations unless you can do most of the work yourself to keep the costs down.
3. Make sure the home is located in a desirable, fast-selling neighborhood. It doesn't matter how nice you make the place, if no one likes the neighborhood, they won't even want to see it, let alone buy it.
4. Concentrate on curb appeal. Make sure the outside of the house is immaculate. Spend some money on landscaping.
5. Enjoy the tax benefits in the meantime (assuming you are going to live there for the 2 years). Not only can you deduct the mortgage interest and some other expenses, when you sell you can make up to $250,000 profit and not pay any taxes on it! ($500,000 for couples). Please talk to your tax advisor for full details.

Remember - real estate is more than an investment when you are living in it. It is also your home. Whether you live there for 2 years or 30 years, buy something that you really like.

- Jim